National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program

National Program

Mapping and Modeling Subcommittee

Weather.gov > National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program > Mapping and Modeling Subcommittee

Mapping and Modeling Subcommittee

 

For detailed information about Tsunami modeling and research, see the NOAA Center for Tsunami Research website.

The Mapping and Modeling Subcommittee brings together expertise on modeling and mapping of tsunami hazards. The MMS develops, standardizes, and improves tools that show how tsunamis could affect people and property. Examples of these tools, which are used for emergency and community planning, include tsunami inundation (flooding) and evacuation maps that show who and what is at risk.

NTHMP Mapping and Modeling Subcommittee (MMS)

 

The Mapping and Modeling Subcommittee (MMS) is comprised of 12 members representing the regions of the NTHMP Coordinating Committee, two NOAA representatives including one from a Tsunami Warning Center (TWC), and one representative each from FEMA and USGS as partner Federal Agencies.

The subcommittee will have two Co-chairs drawn from the body of the MMS, serving for two year terms each. Per MMS Terms of Reference one Co-chair will be from NOAA and the other Co-Chair from a state/territory partner. To ensure continuity of effort, rotation of Co-chairs is offset by one year.

State/territory membership is the Science Member from each of the NTHMP regions of the Coordinating Committee: Alaska, American Samoa, California, East Coast States, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Gulf Coast States, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Oregon, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Washington.

Per NTHMP Rules of Procedure, Science Members appointed to serve on the NTHMP Coordinating Committee, Federal Agency Science Members, and both subcommittee Co-chairs have one vote each on actions that involve the MMS. Officially designated Coordinating Committee Alternates have a vote in the absence of their respective state/territory Science member. General members and technical advisers do not have a vote.

Terms of Reference

Membership:

  • Co-Chairs

  • NOAA Representatives (2)

    • Dr. Summer Ohlendorf, National Tsunami Warning Center
    • Chris Moore, Pacific Marine Environmental Lab (voting member for NOAA)

  • Science Member from other participating Federal Government agencies:

    • Andrew Herseth, Federal Emergency Management Agency
    • Stephanie Ross, U.S. Geological Survey, USGS Science Center, Menlo Park, CA

  • Science Member from each region of the Coordinating Committee:

    • Alaska: Dr. Dmitry Nicolsky, University of Alaska, Fairbanks   (Elena Suleimani, Alternate, University of Alaska, Fairbanks)
    • American Samoa: Elinor Lutu-McMoore, NWS Weather Services Office, American Samoa
    • California: Rick Wilson, California Geological Survey
    • Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands:  Chip Guard, Tropical Weather Sciences (Guam)
    • East Coast: Dr. Jim Kirby, University of Delaware    (Stephan Grilli, Alternate, University of Rhode Island)
    • Guam: Chip Guard, Tropical Weather Sciences (Guam)
    • Gulf Coast: Dr. Juan Horrillo, Texas A&M University at Galveston
    • Hawaii: Dr. Kwok Fai Cheung, University of Hawaii
    • Oregon: Dr. Jon Allan, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries
    • Puerto Rico: Dr. Victor Huerfano, University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez
    • U.S. Virgin Islands: Roy Watlington, Scientist Emeritus
    • Washington: Daniel Eungard, Washington Department of Natural Resources    (Alex Dolcimascolo, Alternate, Washington DNR)

  • General Members (non-voting)

    • Nick Arcos, National Centers for Environmental Information
    • Kelly Carignan, National Centers for Environmental Information
    • Dr. Philip Chu, NOAA/Oceanic and Atmospheric Research/Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab
    • Daniel Eungard, Washington DNR
    • Kara Gately, NOAA/National Weather Service, National Tsunami Warning Center, Palmer, AK
    • Carrie Garrison-Laney, NOAA Sea Grant, Seattle, WA
    • Nick Graehl, California Geological Survey
    • Dr. Jay Patton, California Geological Survey
    • Dr. Stephan Grilli, University of Rhode Island (designated alternate for East Coast Science Member)
    • Dr. Elizabeth Vanacore, University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez (designated alternate for Puerto Rico Science Member)
    • Kelly Stroker, NOAA/NESDIS, National Centers for Environmental Information, Boulder, CO
    • Dr. Chin Wu, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
    • Sarah Rogowski, NTHMP Administrator (ex-officio)

Work Plans (Pending)

 

Modeling Guidance & Products

The following are MMS's contributions to the Tsunami Modeling and Mapping: Guidelines and Best Practices Series. The full series is available on the NTHMP Publications page (pending).

Reference Materials

Benchmarking - Models that Meet Defined Criteria for NTHMP Modeling and Mapping:

 

Based on TWEA Sec 5 C(1) text that reads: "...use inundation models that meet a standard of accuracy defined by the Administration to improve the quality and extent of inundation mapping, including assessment of vulnerable inner coastal and nearshore areas, in a coordinated and standardized fashion to maximize resources and the utility of data collected;..."

Benchmarked Tsunami Models (As of August 17, 2017)

National Centers for Environmental Information

Meetings (in progress)